Hannover 2010 – scientific programme
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 10: Quantum Gases: Bosons II
Q 10.2: Talk
Monday, March 8, 2010, 16:45–17:00, E 001
Bose-Einstein condensation of an alkaline earth element: 40Ca — •Sebastian Kraft, Felix Vogt, Oliver Appel, Fritz Riehle, and Uwe Sterr — Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany
We have achieved Bose-Einstein condensation of 40Ca [1], the first for an alkaline earth element. Due to the large ground state s-wave scattering length and associated large three body losses an optimized loading and cooling scheme was necessary to condense about 2 · 104 atoms. Our cooling scheme consisting of a two-stage magneto-optical trap and subsequent forced evaporation in a crossed dipole trap at magical wavelength allows to reach degeneracy within less than 3 s. Here we present the optimized route to BEC and discuss future applications.
[1] S. Kraft, F. Vogt, O. Appel, F. Riehle, and U. Sterr, Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 130401 (2009).